XML Box Score by Caleb Hufford, GoMessiah.com reporterMiddletown, PA – A six-run third inning propelled the Falcons to a non-conference win over Penn State Harrisburg Wednesday. Two-run doubles by both
Jeremiah Eaton and
Colton Kiester in the third inning led Messiah College (15-3) to an 11-6 win on a blustery afternoon.
Ten different Falcons collected a hit, but the big difference-maker in the contest were the seven errors committed by the Nittany Lions, which led to eight unearned runs.
After both teams failed to score in the first inning, the Falcons opened the scoring in the top of the second.
Isaiah Shipman scored the game's first run after his lead-off single started things for the Falcons.
After PSU-Harrisburg (7-26) tied the game in the bottom half of the frame, Messiah took a commanding 7-1 lead in the third.
Casey Ebersole scored the go-ahead run on an RBI groundout. The remaining five runs were all unearned and scored with two outs. Eaton started the two-out rally with a two-run double to left field. After a walk, Kiester added a two-run double of his own, also to left field. Next, Ebersole's second at-bat of the inning resulted in an error that scored
Jon Heisey. That error was the third of the inning by the Nittany Lions.
PSU-Harrisburg responded with a run, but Messiah quickly took back the momentum when, for the second consecutive inning, Eaton hit a second two-run double to left.
The Falcons' bats went quiet during the next four innings, but they still held a 9-3 lead heading into the bottom of the eighth.
Paul Broomell came in to pitch in the inning but did not record an out while facing five batters. Broomell walked three, threw two wild pitches, and allowed three runs. However,
Adam Marshall came in and ended the Nittany Lions rally there.
The Falcons scored two more runs in the top of the ninth on RBIs by
Joseph Saufley and
Josh Good.
Marshall sealed the win in the bottom of the ninth, finishing with two innings pitched and allowed no hits.
Zach Luman,
Russell Woleslagel, and
Peter Fisher each pitched two innings as well and allowed three runs (one earned) combined. Luman was credited with the win, his second of the year.
The Falcons knocked out 12 hits, with two each by Eaton and Shipman. Eaton also collected a team-high four RBI in the win.
Messiah earned their second straight victory as they also scored 11 runs in their previous game.
The Falcons return to action on Friday against Commonwealth foe Widener University. The single game is set to begin at 3:30 p.m.
